Gangster flees from custody, four policemen suspended

Dabodia's aide disappears, cops found unconscious

Slain most wanted criminal Neetu Dabodia’s associate Vikram Paras escaped from Delhi Police custody while he was being brought back to the capital after court appearances in Punjab. 

Four officials deployed with third battalion of Delhi Police — head constable Dhanesh Kumar and constables Ajay Pal, Ramesh Chand and Neer Singh — have been placed under suspension for negligent behaviour.

Paras, who hails from Haryana’s Panipat district and involved in over 100 cases of murder, robbery and extortion, also took away a MP5 sub-machine gun with 15 cartridges. According to police, Paras was first escorted from outer Delhi to New Delhi railway station in a bus on Sunday.

Dhanesh was carrying a 9mm pistol with 10 cartridges, while constable Neer was carrying a MP5 sub-machine gun with 35 cartridges. 

“Paras was to be produced before two courts in Punjab’s Mansa and Muktsar districts,” a police officer said. 

The police team along with Paras boarded Punjab Mail train at around 10 pm on Sunday and reached Mansa railway station at around 2 am on Monday.

Paras was produced before Mansa court at noon on Monday. 

“After the court appearance, they took a train from Mansa railway station to Bhatinda railway station,” the officer added. They spent the night at a police post in Bhatinda as Paras was to be produced before another court in Muktsar district on Tuesday.

They were scheduled to return to the capital on Wednesday morning and boarded Punjab Mail train from Bhatinda railway station at around 11.30 pm on Tuesday. 

“Constable Ajay had bought juice in Bhatinda which the police officers consumed near Haryana’s Rohtak district,” the officer said.

It is claimed that the police officers lost consciousness after consuming juice and woke up at Aruna Asaf Ali Government Hospital in north Delhi’s Civil Lines on Wednesday. Constable Neer’s MP5 sub-machine gun was found missing with 15 cartridges, while Dhanesh’s pistol was with constable Ramesh. 

A case under 328 (causing hurt by means of poison), 379 (theft) and 224 (resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension) of the Indian Penal Code has been filed over head constable Dhanesh’s statement with Old Delhi railway station police station.

The incident came to light when a call was made to the police control room stating that a policeman was lying unconscious in the parking lot of the Old Delhi railway station. 

A police team was despatched to the spot and found two more policemen lying unconscious on the opposite platform while another was found wandering in the railway station searching for Paras in a drugged state. 

“The accused escaped somewhere between Rohtak and Delhi border,” said Sanjay Bhatia, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railways).

Paras has a history of escaping from police custody, and had also orchestrated the daring escape of Dabodia and another gangster from south-west Delhi’s Dwarka in 2012. According to police, Paras was first arrested in an Arms Act case in Panipat in 2005, and by Delhi Police Special Cell in March this year.